WORD POWER

• by Hope Anita Smith

  “It’s been too hard living but I’m afraid to die
  Cause I don’t know what’s up there beyond the sky
  It’s been a long, a long time coming
  But I know a change gon come, oh yes it will”*

   

  In the beginning
  Was God
  And long before He took a rib from
  Adam’s side
  God gave Adam dominion
  The Power to use his words…
  I work.
  I do my job.
  Type, file, answer phones
  Make a mean cup of coffee
  But when the boss calls me into his office
  I know my resume is lacking
  He runs his eyes up my skirt
  Lingering a little too long on the assets
  He did not find on my curriculum vitae.
  His eyes are feeling me up
  I try not to feel…
  I am on the other side of the room
  When he speaks
  His words reach out like
  tentacles
  brush against my breasts
  cup my behind.
  When I look displeased
  His mouth smiles and sends his words flying at
  My face like the backside of a raised hand.
  I feel the sting when he asks
  “Do you like your job?
  I want to say,
  Be a man, just hit me.
  He tells the joke about the woman who
  Just couldn’t get enough (if you know what I mean)
  Wink, wink.
  His words are erect
  I open my mouth, take them in
  I suck
  in my breath
  and
  I swallow.
  Laugh like I’m one of the guys
  I’ve got 2 babies to feed
  Rent to pay
  And a car that occasionally runs.
  There are days when
  The weight of his words weighs heavy on me.
  I can’t get them off
  I am pinned down
  I can’t move
  I can’t breathe
  And I pray
  I won’t remember
  This violation
  This violence against me
  the only evidence is viva voce
  and there are no rape kits for words.
  I don’t want to testify
  It’s my word
  Against his
  My words are too small
  I think how can I fight?
  And the answer comes to me
  how can I not?

  My “no more” grabs him by the balls
  Puts them in a vice grip
  I take dictation and
  Discover two new words
  Slight and piddling
  Humph
  He’s not so big
  My words join hands
  Gain courage and confidence as they hold on to each other
  There is strength in numbers
  The power of my words cause him to shrivel up
  I word up
  Reveal every bruise
  Submit every dirty, slimy word that fondled, stroked, patted, caressed, grazed,
  I say it again
  No more.
  And ladies,
  Know more.
  Know your place.
  Know you have one.
  And it’s not on his lap
  On your knees
  Or lying prostrate across his desk
  No more.
  And no. I didn’t ask for it
  But it stops here
  No more.
  I may not win
  But I will fight
  I can’t win if I don’t fight
  I win
  Because I fight
  I will be heard.

  “There been times that I thought I wouldn’t last for long
  Now think I’m able to carry on
  It’s been a long, along time coming but I know
  A change gon’ come, oh yes it will”*

   

  *Lyrics to “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke (1964)